Somalia four held under Terror Act

Four Britons who were detained on the war-torn Somalian-Kenyan border three weeks ago have returned to the UK and were immediately held under the Terrorism Act.

The Metropolitan Police have nine hours to detain the four men, who are in their 20s and from the London area, before they are arrested or released.

The men flew from Nairobi in Kenya and landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshirey, where they were detained under the Port and Border Controls of the Terrorism Act 2000, a police spokeswoman said.

The four men were originally detained by the Kenyan authorities on the Somalian border on January 20. No British consular access was granted.

They were deported to Somalia on February 10 and negotiations began between Foreign Office officials, the Kenyan and Somalian authorities.

It was agreed that the men should be returned to the UK and their journey was arranged by the Foreign Office. On Monday, consular staff from Nairobi travelled to Baidoa in Somalia and accompanied the men back to Kenya.

They were flown out almost immediately and arrived in the UK on Tuesday morning.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "At approximately 6.50am today four men were detained under Ports and Borders Controls following their arrival at RAF Brize Norton.

"The men, all in their 20s and from the London area, were taken to a west London police station where they are currently detained. They have not been arrested."

The spokeswoman said the men were detained by the Kenyan authorities after crossing the border from Somalia.